Label analysisGrade AListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Orijen

Orijen Six Fish™ Recipe Dry Dog Food

Calculate portions with this foodChoosing for your dog
Editor ingredient insight

Orijen Six Fish has a very strong fish axis: pilchard, mackerel, hake, flounder, rockfish, sole, and several fish meals lead the formula, with 39% protein, 19% fat, 3,760 kcal/kg, 1.8% omega-3, and 1.1% EPA+DHA.

It is worth considering for active dogs that do better on fish than chicken, not for kidney-sensitive, legume-sensitive, or strict fish-only troubleshooting dogs because phosphorus is 1.1%, legumes follow later, and freeze-dried beef, goat, and lamb natural flavors are also present.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of grains and vegetables beside a dog-food bowl
Grain and vegetable illustration

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 39%Fat 19%Other 42%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.

Fat positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.

Calorie densityHigher

This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.5%
Phosphorus1.1%
Crude fiber5%
Omega-31.8%
Omega-62.1%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade

The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.

Listed ingredients

Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.

Grains and vegetables ingredient illustration
Grain and vegetable illustration
A+6/6Ingredient gradeTop Premium
Ingredient #1 · Whole Pilchard (18%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Whole Mackerel (12%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #3 · Whole Hake (11%)Top
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #1Top

Whole Pilchard (18%)

Whole Pilchard (18%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Top

Whole Mackerel (12%)

Whole Mackerel (12%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #3Top

Whole Hake (11%)

Whole Hake (11%) is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Whole pilchard (18%) — Primary positive ingredientswhole mackerel (12%) — Primary positive ingredientswhole hake (11%) — Primary positive ingredientsflounder (5%) — Primary positive ingredientswhole rockfish (5%) — Primary positive ingredientswhole sole (5%) — Primary positive ingredientsmackerel fish meal (5%) — Support positive ingredientsherring fish meal (5%) — Support positive ingredientswhitefish meal (5%) — Support positive ingredientssardine fish meal (5%) — Support positive ingredientsblue whiting white fish meal (4.5%) — Support positive ingredientsfish oil (4%) — Support positive ingredientsred lentils — Caution ingredientsgreen lentils — Caution ingredientsgreen peas — Caution ingredientspea fiber — Neutral ingredientschickpeas — Caution ingredientsyellow peas — Caution ingredientssunflower oil — Neutral ingredientspinto common beans — Neutral ingredientssalmon (0.5%) — Primary positive ingredientsdried sea kelp — Support positive ingredientspumpkin — Neutral ingredientsbutternut squash — Neutral ingredientszucchini — Neutral ingredientsdried chopped carrots — Neutral ingredientsapples — Neutral ingredientspears — Neutral ingredientskale — Neutral ingredientsspinach — Neutral ingredientsbeet greens — Neutral ingredientsturnip greens — Neutral ingredientscranberries — Neutral ingredientsblueberries — Neutral ingredientssaskatoon berries — Neutral ingredientsfreeze-dried beef meat (natural flavor) — Support positive ingredientsfreeze-dried goat meat (natural flavor) — Support positive ingredientsfreeze-dried lamb meat (natural flavor) — Support positive ingredientsdl-alpha-tocopherol acetate — Support positive ingredientszinc proteinate — Support positive ingredientsnatural vitamin E — Support positive ingredientsrosemary extract — Neutral ingredientscitric acid (preservative) — Neutral ingredientsthiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1) — Neutral ingredientscopper proteinate — Support positive ingredientsEnterococcus faecium — Support positive ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Whole plant protein source observed early

Animal protein · Whole pilchard (18%) (#1), whole mackerel (12%) (#2), whole hake (11%) (#3), flounder (5%) (#4), whole rockfish (5%) (#5), whole sole (5%) (#6), mackerel fish meal (5%) (#7), herring fish meal (5%) (#8), whitefish meal (5%) (#9), sardine fish meal (5%) (#10), blue whiting white fish meal (4.5%) (#11), salmon (0.5%) (#21), freeze-dried beef meat (natural flavor) (#36), freeze-dried goat meat (natural flavor) (#37), freeze-dried lamb meat (natural flavor) (#38)

Plant protein · red lentils (#13), green lentils (#14), green peas (#15), chickpeas (#17), yellow peas (#18)

The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.

This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientProbioticsGut support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Whole pilchard (18%), whole mackerel (12%) supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. red lentils, green lentils contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber further down the ingredient list. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone.

pea fiber supply fiber. For stool or satiety considerations, the disclosed crude-fiber amount adds useful context beyond the ingredient's presence.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including mackerel, flounder, herring, unspecified, sardine, whiting, salmon, beef, goat, lamb. Some protein sources are not fully identified, which limits choices that require excluding a specific protein.

What works well in this food

  • All top three ingredients are animal ingredients.
  • Crude protein is on the higher side.
  • Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.

Check before feeding

  • Phosphorus is 1.1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
  • The top three are animal-led, but legumes repeat just below them in the early full ingredient list. Read this as a possible ingredient-splitting pattern rather than a clean top-three issue.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. Compare this combination when both protein and concentrated energy matter. It can help plan smaller portions, but dogs prone to weight gain should not switch gram-for-gram from a less calorie-dense food.

Consider it first when

  • Your dog already eats the listed animal and plant ingredients comfortably
  • You want animal ingredients first without excluding plant ingredients

Choose another food first when

  • You need to exclude a listed ingredient
  • You need a verified animal-protein proportion, which ingredient order alone cannot provide

High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart whitefish / sardine alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Orijen background

Founded in 2005 in Canada.

Disclosure confidence C2

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed public recall history.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

As a public review, this is a strong candidate to carry forward. The next question is whether it stays this strong for your own dog.